Is there a certain medical test that detects if a person has rabies virus?

Question

I was bitten by a dog several years ago. i wasn't sure if he was rabid or not but the dog didn't die right away. he did several years later when he was already old. i've heard a lot of people say- even doctors- that rabies symptoms may develop several years later after the person was bitten by an animal. i don't wanna wait for symptoms to show in case the animal that bit me was rabid. now i wanna know if there's a medical examination that detects if i have rabies virus on my body or not.

Answer 1

My understanding is that rabies will show up within six months. I also understand that the rabies shots must be given within 72 hours after being bitten...it may even be less.

If the dog died of old age, he didn't have rabies. Rabies is actually quite rare in pets, even if they are unvaccinated. (Also, many don't know that the vaccination is not 100% effective...any vaccinated pet bitten by another animal suspected of having rabies needs to have a booster ASAP and be quarantined for a certain amount of time...I don't remember how long but it is substantially more than 10 days, I believe). People tend to make a big deal about it because it is almost 100% fatal in humans once symptoms appear, even with treatment. Soooo....if there is some kind of rare dormant type of rabies that I've never heard about (and I've worked with animals for years, as well as grew up in an area known for a huge number of rabid wild animals), chances of you having it is miniscule, at best.

If you are still worried, ask your doctor.

Answer 2

First off, if the dog didn't exhibit symptoms, and did not die within ten days, there is very little chance that it could've had rabies. Second, if you think you have been exposed to rabies then there is no reason for you to be on the internet asking normal average-joe's like you for help. You need to see a doctor to ask this question. Finally, since with most post-exposure rabies medications, time is of the essence, there is probably little they could do at this point. But hey, I'm not a doctor. So go ask one.

Answer 3

I have always heard that if the dog cannot be found, etc, you'have to start the treatment right away -

years? - I would think you are safe by now